Comparative effects of a cardiovascular rehabilitation program on functional capacity in patients with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy with or without heart failure

Purpose The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) on functional capacity of patients with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) and to compare the responses between CCC patients without and with heart failure (HF). Materials and methods A longitudinal observational retrospective study was carried out including 36 patients with CCC without HF (stage B2 [n = 7]) and with HF (stage C [n = 29]), who participated in a CR program. Functional capacity was assessed by a maximal progressive cardiopulmonary exercise test performed on a treadmill. The longitudinal effects of the CR on functional capacity were determined by linear mixed models that included an interaction term to evaluate the differential responses between patients without and with HF. Results Significant improvements in peak oxygen consumption, resting heart rate and blood pressure, and maximum pulmonary ventilation were observed for the overall study sample, with no apparent differential effects according to the presence of HF. Conclusions CR significantly improved functional capacity of patients with CCC. The responses to CR appear to be similar among patients without and with HF, reinforcing the need for its inclusion as a standard treatment strategy of CCC.